Whitwell Police Chief Indicted
WHITWELL, Tenn.– A joint investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office has resulted in the indictment of the Whitwell Police Chief on multiple charges, including tampering with evidence, theft of property and official misconduct.
In April of 2016, the 12th District Attorney General Michael Taylor requested the TBI lead in the investigation of James Rodney Easterly. Complaints of theft, controlled substance violations and fraudulent receipt of food assistance within Marion County prompted the investigation.
During the investigation, the TBI says agents found information that implicated Easterly in those and other charges, which occurred over several months in 2016.
The Marion County Grand Jury returned charged Easterly on June 8th with a long list of charges. They include: Conspiracy to Commit Theft, Possession of a Controlled Substance for Resale, Conspiracy of Possession of a Schedule III Controlled Substance, Fraudulent Receipt of Food Assistance, Official Misconduct, Theft of Property, Coercion of a Witness, Tampering with or Fabricating Evidence, and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of Attempt to Commit a Dangerous Felony.
Easterly turned himself in at the Marion County Jail, where he was booked. His bond was set at $38,000.
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